Trump takes Scotland to court over offshore wind farm (video)

A sign welcomes visitors to Trump International Golf Links in Aberdeen, Scotland.

A sign welcomes visitors to Trump International Golf Links in Aberdeen, Scotland.

Photo: Trump International Golf Club Scotland Limited

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Trump International Golf Links was built on sand dunes formed over thousands of years on the Aberdeenshire coast in Scotland.

Trump International Golf Links was built on sand dunes formed over thousands of years on the Aberdeenshire coast in Scotland.

Photo: Trump International Golf Club Scotland Limited

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In an interview about the project, Donald Trump Jr., executive vice president of development and acquisitions at The Trump Organization said:
"We were told there was no way we'd ever be able to build a golf course on the dunes because of various environmental statutes that we had to go through. He [Donald Trump] went through with the purchase anyway because it was really his dream to be able to build a course of this magnificence, of this magnitude, of this stature." less

In an interview about the project, Donald Trump Jr., executive vice president of development and acquisitions at The Trump Organization said:
"We were told there was no way we'd ever be able to build a golf ... more

Photo: Trump International Golf Club Scotland Limited

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The rolling dunes on the Aberdeen coast made the location attractive for Trump's golfing destination.

The rolling dunes on the Aberdeen coast made the location attractive for Trump's golfing destination.

Photo: Trump International Golf Club Scotland Limited

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Balmedie Country Park in Scotland became the location of Trump International Golf Links.

Balmedie Country Park in Scotland became the location of Trump International Golf Links.

Photo: ED JONES / AFP/Getty Images

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The Trump International Golf Links is a new golfing destination on 1,400 acres of sand dunes on the north coast of Scotland.

The Trump International Golf Links is a new golfing destination on 1,400 acres of sand dunes on the north coast of Scotland.

Photo: Trump

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Trump International Golf Links opened in July 2012.

Trump International Golf Links opened in July 2012.

Photo: Trump International Golf Club Scotland Limited

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Donald Trump tees off on opening day at the Trump International Golf Links in July 2012.

Donald Trump tees off on opening day at the Trump International Golf Links in July 2012.

Photo: Trump International Golf Club Scotland Limited

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Donald Trump plays a stroke as he officially opens his new Trump International Golf Links course in Aberdeenshire, Scotland, in July 2012. Now, he is aggressively fighting Scottish plans to build 11 wind turbines off the coast overlooked by his golf course and other proposed projects. less

Donald Trump plays a stroke as he officially opens his new Trump International Golf Links course in Aberdeenshire, Scotland, in July 2012. Now, he is aggressively fighting Scottish plans to build 11 wind ... more

Photo: Andy Buchanan / AFP/Getty Images

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Ivanka Trump, Donald Trump's daughter and executive vice president of development and acquisitions at the Trump Organization, tees off on opening day at the Trump International Golf Links in July 2012.

Ivanka Trump, Donald Trump's daughter and executive vice president of development and acquisitions at the Trump Organization, tees off on opening day at the Trump International Golf Links in July 2012.

Photo: Trump International Golf Club Scotland Limited

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British PGA CEO Sandy Jones tees off at the Trump International Golf Links in July 2012.

British PGA CEO Sandy Jones tees off at the Trump International Golf Links in July 2012.

Photo: Trump International Golf Club Scotland Limited

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Donald Trump arrives at the Old Course, where he was meeting with the media to answer questions regarding Trump International Golf Links in St Andrews, Scotland in 2006.

Donald Trump arrives at the Old Course, where he was meeting with the media to answer questions regarding Trump International Golf Links in St Andrews, Scotland in 2006.

Photo: Jeff J Mitchell / Getty Images

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Donald Trump speaks during a press conference following his address to the Scottish Parliament in 2012 in Edinburgh, Scotland. Trump spoke of his concerns over a proposed wind farm, mooted to built near his new GBP 1 billion golf resort, telling the Scottish Parliament that they will destroy tourism in the country. less

Donald Trump speaks during a press conference following his address to the Scottish Parliament in 2012 in Edinburgh, Scotland. Trump spoke of his concerns over a proposed wind farm, mooted to built near his ... more

Photo: Jeff J Mitchell / Getty Images

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Billionaire Donald Trump arrives at Aberdeen Airport in Scotland in 2010, to give a press conference about his plans for the "world's greatest" luxury golf and housing project on the Menie Estate in Aberdeenshire. Among those opposed to Donald Trump's $1.5 billion Scottish golf resort is local fisherman Michael Forbes. Forbes refused Trump's offer of nearly $700,000 (488,000 pounds) to buy his family's run-down farm, which sits at the center of the planned resort. less

Billionaire Donald Trump arrives at Aberdeen Airport in Scotland in 2010, to give a press conference about his plans for the "world's greatest" luxury golf and housing project on the Menie Estate in ... more

Photo: Danny Lawson / AP

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US property tycoon Donald Trump answers questions during a press conference in 2008 after a public inquiry over his plans to build a golf resort near Aberdeen. The plan overcame opposition from environmentalists. less

US property tycoon Donald Trump answers questions during a press conference in 2008 after a public inquiry over his plans to build a golf resort near Aberdeen. The plan overcame opposition from ... more

Trumps hatred for turbines isn’t arbitrary. An offshore wind farm is slated to rise near his new 1,400-acre coastal golfing destination in Scotland, which he promotes as the world’s greatest golf course.

In an interview on “Real Sports with Bryant Gumbel” Tuesday night, Trump said he has filed a lawsuit against the nation of Scotland over the plan to erect 11 wind turbines off the coast of his golf course.

The turbines would have an installed capacity of up to 100 megawatts and produce enough electricity to power more than 68,000 homes.

“We’re suing a country,” he told reporter Bernard Goldberg. “We’re doing very well and I think I’m doing a great service because people in Scotland and many other places didn’t know how to fight these things.”

The Trump International Golf Links’ two golf courses were built along three coastal miles and across sand dunes thousands of years old, drawing ire from environmentalists and neighbors. Trump also plans to construct a 450-room luxury hotel on the property. But he said he will drop the plan if Scotland doesn’t kill the offshore wind farm.

“These windmills are as tall as Trump Tower. That’s like a massive skyscraper coming out of Aberdeen Bay,” Trump said. “Who would spend hundreds of millions of dollars building a hotel when you’re looking into a turbine? These are industrial turbines. They make noise. They create shadows.”

Trump assures that he won’t back down in his legal fight against the Scottish government.

“It’s not going to be an easy battle,” he said. “But we’ll win.”

Watch a portion of Trump’s interview about the controversy on “Real Sports with Bryant Gumbel”: